Williams congratulates Bullock, explains early concerns The Los Angeles Clippers have a star point guard in Chris Paul, a high-flying power forward in Blake Griffin and a new coach in Doc Rivers. They lacked athletic wings this past season, and the selection of North Carolina's Reggie Bullock with the 25th pick Thursday addresses that issue.

The Clippers have been looking to trade small forward Caron Butler, who started 78 games, and reserve Matt Barnes is a free agent. Willie Green, who averaged only 6.3 points while starting 60 games at shooting guard, shared time with 15-year veteran Chauncey Billups, and guard Jamal Crawford averaged 16.5 points while excelling as a sixth man.

Those factors could give the 6-foot-7 Bullock a chance to battle for a starting position.

“I am thrilled, just absolutely thrilled for the young man," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "I’m as ecstatic as I could possibly be. I spoke to Reggie just moments after he was selected, and he’s so happy and excited. He really did a great job throughout the pre-draft process with his workouts and interviews, especially with the Clippers.

"Everyone knows by now that I was a bit scared initially about his decision to enter the draft because the NBA people that I spoke to said he was a borderline first- or second-round pick. Most of them told me they thought he would go in the top of the second round, including the NBA evaluation committee. So that was the cause of my concern for someone I care so much about. But the Clippers selecting Reggie in the first round shows everyone how well he performed under pressure in the pre-draft workouts. I take my hat off to him. He earned that first-round pick."

Bullock is the 45th player from UNC to be selected in the NBA draft’s first round and the 14th to play for Williams in Chapel Hill. The last UNC player picked by the Clippers was Joe Wolf in 1987.

Bullock averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds last year, when he made 88 shots from 3-point range (the third-most in UNC single-season history), handed out 101 assists and had 44 steals.

The Kinston native was third in the ACC in 3-point percentage, fourth in 3-point field goals made, 13th in scoring and 14th in rebounding.

Bullock is the 25th collegian to play for Williams to be drafted in the first round (11 Kansas players and 14 UNC players). He is the 106th UNC player selected in the NBA draft.

#Clippers yesssirrrrrr!!!!

— Reggie Bullock (@ReggieBullock35) June 28, 2013

Congrats to @ReggieBullock35 on being drafted. He was on my 1st 15 and Under CP3 All-Stars team. #teamCp3

— Chris Paul (@CP3) June 28, 2013

Welcome to the west @ReggieBullock35 congrats bro!

— Danny Green (@DGreen_14) June 28, 2013

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